Arts preview: Hot Spots at the Voxfire Gallery showcases love

HOT SPOTS
Voxfire Gallery

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Voxfire Gallery has brought together four Hong Kong artists - Lam Wai-kit, Galen Tse Kin-wah, Chris Luk Wing-ho and Patrick Leung Wai-kwok - for a group show revolving around matters of the heart. Each of the artists will showcase three pieces that represent a personal take on an amorous theme.

"Nowadays, Valentine's Day is pretty commercial - it's all about retail and spending," says Vincent Tam, owner of the Sheung Wan gallery. "What we're trying to do is to give artists an opportunity to share their perspective on what it means to be romantic and sexy in the city we're living in."

Tam says the four artists were chosen because of their diverse experience and background, echoing the gallery's goal of discovering emerging artists.

Leung's work features more stereotypical spots such as the airport and neon lights from the red light district around Portland Street. Luk - who started off as a self-taught photographer and later attended courses at London's Central Saint Martin College - depicts intimate moments between a pair of lovers.

Lam says "You Are Everywhere", the title of her black-and-white series of three pictures, sums up her view. "For me, Valentine's Day is just like any other day," says the photographer. "Being romantic and sexy isn't bound by gender, age, or any other restrictions. It can be anywhere and everywhere, both physically and psychologically."

Tse's still-life images, which he created by layering everyday objects on top of each other, for example, a half apple, plastic rose and ring , stem from a common idea. "At the end of the day, the core of what we're exploring is based on love," says Tse.

Tam hopes that the very different works will ensure that there's something for everyone to relate to. "The fascinating part is that when you go from one image to the next, you make your own interpretation of what it means to each particular artist," says Tam.

"If you've just broken up, you might like Wai-kit's quieter shots. If you're madly in love, you may enjoy Patrick's works more. The emotional conversation you have with the piece really depends on your mood and stage of the relationship you're in."

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Voxfire Gallery, 1/F, 52 Gage Street, Sheung Wan, Tuesday-Friday, 11am-7pm, Saturday, noon-6pm, February 14-28. Inquiries: 2581 3385